Velo Club Cumbria 10

Liam Beaty (Scottish Borders Race Team) took victory by just nine seconds in the Velo Club Cumbria 10, while under-23 rider Maddie Leech (Huddersfield Star Whs) comfortably won the women’s event.

Beaty, aged 37, was pushed all the way for victory eventually posting a winning time of 19 minutes and 41 seconds – an average speed of over 30.4 miles per hour.

Fighting for the victory and just nine seconds back was veteran Richard Bideau who had to settle for second this time out.

The popular L1010 course saw riders start at Beck Wythop before heading down the A66 – running alongside Bassenthwaite Lake – to the turn at Keswick before making the return journey.

Beaty was beaten into second in the Darlington CC/VTTA (North) 25 in April by Jack Levick but was not to be denied this time out taking his first individual open victory of the season.

Last season the 37-year-old won the Border City Whs CC 10 on the same course in 19-06 and despite being 35 seconds slower this time out he held on for victory.

Bideau has won two open events this season but had to settle for second in 19-50 recording an average speed of over 30.2 miles per hour.

A close battle for third saw veteran rider Craig Horseman (Giant-Kendal-Sidas.uk) stop the clock in 20-21 which was five seconds faster than David Thompson (Rock to Roll CC) (20-26).

Beaty was slower than his Spindata predicted time of 19-28 and with Bideau improving on his forecasted 20-05 the event was closer than expected.

“It’s always good to win, but I’ve had some faster days on that course in the last few years,” said Beaty.

“It was a bit breezy and felt a bit draggy on the way out and then it wasn’t that quick coming back.

“Richard (Bideau) is a good rider and I knew that it would be quite tight between the main riders.

“I’ve got no real plans going forward, I’ll take each month as it comes and pick my races without any real expectations.”

On her first open time trial outing of the season Leech posted an impressive time of 21 minutes and 15 seconds to comfortably win the women’s event – an average speed of over 28.2 miles per hour.

Leech, aged 20, won the National Junior 25-mile Championships earlier in her career and was runner-up in the National Circuit Championships two years ago.

There was another close battle for second with veteran Karen Taylor (Springfield Financial Racing Team) posting a time of 25-30 which was 12 seconds quicker than Sue Cheetham (North Lancashire Road Club) (25-42).

In the other race categories, junior rider Blain Ewing (Beacon Wheelers) posted a time of 24-04 and tricycle competitor Brian Moore (The Tricycle Association - North Western Region) clocked 32-37.

There was just one road bike competitor with Harry Bradshaw (Islington Cycling Club) recording a time of 25-19.

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